Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgos-Zegelius, leader of the VVD party, speaks during the weekly press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting in The Hague, April 10, 2026. (Photo by Robin Utrecht/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)/Netherlands OUT
Robin Utrecht | AFP | Getty Images
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgos-Zegelius says the United States is justified in asking its allies to increase their defense spending.
Speaking to CNBC’s Sri Jegaraja on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Yesilgoz said that before the Ukraine war broke out, the Netherlands relied heavily on its allies.
“So I think this is a very clear message. And it is very important that all NATO allies make sure that they fully invest the 5% that they agreed at the Hague summit. The Netherlands is doing this and I urge other countries to do so as well,” she added.
Back in June 2025, NATO countries except Spain had committed to spending 5% of their gross domestic product on defense, split between 3.5% in direct spending and 1.5% in related spending.
Yecilgoz also pointed out that five years ago it would have been impossible for the Dutch public to support such an increase in defense spending, but after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine there has been significant support for additional defense spending.
“I always say, you have a choice, either be on the menu or have a seat at the table. If we don’t increase defense spending, you’re going to be on the menu. And I don’t want the Dutch, the Dutch, to be on the menu. I want a voice at the table.”
Dylan Yesilgos-Zegelius
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Netherlands.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Amsterdam spent about 2.2% of its GDP on defense in 2025.
Her comments also come as U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth targeted European countries during a speech at the dialogue, saying the U.S. government would no longer subsidize the defense of “rich countries.”
“For too long, polite pleas to our European allies to spend more on their defense have fallen on deaf ears. They are finally catching up,” Hegseth said.
“The burden is collective, so it’s really important to make sure we share the burden,” Yesilgoz said.
He acknowledged that Amsterdam needs to protect itself but is not yet in that position and that the country needs to “step up.”
“We have a choice. It’s either on the menu or it’s on the table. If we don’t increase defense spending…then it’s on the menu,” she said. “I don’t want Dutch, Dutch on the menu. I want to have a voice at the table.”
